Sticky Shifter (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Sep 9, 2020
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Location
Connecticut
So i've had this problem a few times now. In the beginning i didn't exactly know what was causing it. It's a 2011 GX with around 150K miles.
I've noticed after i return from long work trips, it seems like the shifter is a bit "sticky". I thought it was just because the rental cars i usually drive don't have gated shifters so it's just me getting used to driving the GX again.
One day i return from a work trip, again shifter felt "sticky" drove for about half a mile then 4Lo and traction light turns ON. I thought i may have pressed the 4Lo switch by accident so i pulled over and made sure it wasn't in 4LO.
Then i put it in 4LO just in case something was stuck, got out of 4LO, went reverse, then to drive then neutral..basically just going through the shifter just in case something was stuck. I was doing this on the Popeyes parking lot. So after a few tries going in and out of 4LO i parked and got something to eat. When i started the vehicle everything seemed normal again. No dash lights, so i drove home.

When i asked in the Facebook group every one was sure it was my batteries. So after another work trip(i took a cab to the airport this time since i didn't trust the GX would take me home) I bought new batteries.
Right after i installed the new batteries, as i started driving the GX maybe half a mile 4LO, traction control and CEL comes ON.
This time i noticed that in the dash, i didn't see that the vehicle was in Drive(D). Although it was obviously in drive since i was driving it. So i did what did like before where i went through all the different gates P,R,N and D. I finally got it where i could see in the dash that it was in Drive.
Everything was fine until 2 days ago. I was getting gas, i was driving it maybe 3 days before. right after i got gas, as i was driving out 4LO lights and traction lights come on. Shifter was feeling a little "sticky" so i thought here we go again.
My question is, is there something i'm supposed to lubricate in the shifter or shifter linkage as preventive maintenance? There's supposed to be something that the linkage moves under the vehicle. I've seen videos for a tacoma. I couldn't find that in the GX 460. I know i'm not the only one with this issue because i've seen so many posts in Facebook. But i think in Facebook people seem to jump to conclusions usually giving wrong advice. I figured i'd ask here since from experience people in forums seem to give better advice.
 
Do you have an OBDII code reader or a dongle that reads codes on your phone?
Sounds like you have some error codes popping up, but since you don't have anything to read codes you'll just be wondering in the dark.
You can get an OBDII scanner diagnostic tool like these here: Amazon.com : obdii scanner diagnostic tool - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=obdii+scanner+diagnostic+tool&crid=1IAHCW0J6A1Z2&sprefix=obdii+%2Caps%2C183&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_6
or do what some of us on here have done and get a dongle. several of us use this: Amazon product ASIN B07JFRFJG6This has been great for many uses, primarily keeping a digital reading on my engine and trans temperatures and having a real time speed since my tires are over sized and my speedo is off.
It will read codes and clear them too.
I like having the dongle because it's plugged in all the time so if anything ever happens anywhere, I can read and clear the code and not worry about having to have a diagnostic tool with me all the time in the glove.
 
I bought an OBD link scanner. Looked at diagnostics and there were no codes. No error codes.
What scanner did you get? Is it a Bluetooth dongle for your phone or just a diagnostic scanner?
 
Ok so i think i figured out the problem. I searched around and found out that the issue was related to the Neutral Safety Switch. i found a few videos on Youtube and there is this this one video that shows where the neutral safety switch is on the GX. So what is did basically was spray some WD 40 and lithium lubricant and it seemed to fix the issue.

I could see the corrosion on the neutral safety and i think that was the issue. I'll just lubricate this switch every now and then. Thanks for the help.

So the scanner i bought is OBDLink MX+
 
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